Alaina B. Teplitz, the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, has donated rescue boat engines and other life-saving equipment to Sri Lanka to support and rescue capabilities during the monsoon flooding season.
The donation is to include, “3 Suzuki 40hp outboard motors for use with inflatable rescue boats, 44 safety helmets for boat operators, 11 rescue ropes and 22 lifebuoys rings”. The US is also working with Sri Lanka’s Ministries of Health, Education, and Tourism in creating the country’s first water safety policy.
This news increased patrols in the North-East, as the Sri Lankan Navy aims to prevent Eelam Tamil refugees who had fled to India from returning. The presence of the Sri Lankan Navy in the North-East has been widely criticised by the Tamil community and been marred by state violence.
In May, Sri Lankan sailors assaulted at least two Tamil farmers in Vadamarachchi East, who were returning from work. They were stopped by the sailors and attacked with metal wires at approximately 7.30 pm.
Ambassador Teplitz with regards to the donation that she was happy “that the United States can provide this rescue gear that will inevitably save Sri Lankan lives during monsoon flooding and other natural disasters,”.
She further claimed,
“Empowering Sri Lankan civil society to ensure the safety and security of the people of Sri Lanka is a key component of our longstanding support.”
Over the last 70 years, the United States has contributed Rs. 370 billion in aid to Sri Lanka, none of which must be repaid, the US State Department reports.
Teplitz claims that US aid has helped Sri Lanka to "foster a strong, sovereign Sri Lanka".
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